LINCOLN, Ala. (WBRC) – Some Lincoln High School students are working to train in the high-demand field of cybersecurity.

When you work 40 hours a week and a thief redirects your money into their personal account, your cybersecurity has been compromised.

“If it’s used in the wrong hands, how it could affect their lives, and how it can affect national security,” said Brian Kelly.

Kelly is Lincoln High School’s cybersecurity instructor. He is talking about the dangers of someone stealing your personal information by accessing your electronic devices.

“Cybersecurity basically involves securing your computer, your data and your network from outside forces that can go in any direction from pranks to actually stealing your entire financial livelihood,” said Kelly.

Students in the cybersecurity program learn to identify and prevent phishing, protect networks, and identify hidden backdoors on computers.

“I like encryption. I did a lab with encryption and I found out I was really good at it and when we had went to a cyber summit in Huntsville, I found out I was really good at encryption,” said Kyrie Frith.

Students participate in cyber competitions to test their skills, increase their knowledge while meeting other cyber students, something Principal Matt Brooks had in mind with this program.

“They’ve done an awesome job in representing Lincoln High School and again, it’s another opportunity to expose kids to as many things as we can. Several of these kids are interested in pursuing that after school and going into college so that’s what school’s and my job as principal suppose to do is provide opportunities,” said Brooks.

Brian Kelly says there are 4,000 open cybersecurity jobs in Alabama and these students will help fill those jobs.

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